Terrance p



(No Model.)

P. FOR TUBULAR PACK 0R STEA NDENSER TUBES.

No. 433,282. Patented July 29, 1890.

w g a 8* M g A TZOHNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TERRANCE P. FORD, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

TUBULAR PACKING FOR STEAM-CONDENSER TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,282, dated July 29, 1890.

Application filed September 17, 1889. Serial No. 324,250. (No model.)

steam tight the joints of the parts above named in tubuler steam-condensers by the insertion of the paekings within recesses or apertures in the head-sheets, through or into which and the packings the ends of the con- (lensing-tubes fit, are usually made of manila or other paper in sheets, which are coated with glue or other cement and then wrapped or rolled upon a mandrel to make a spirally wrapped tube of suitable diameter and thickness, the glue causing the wraps to adhere to or one outside the other, after which said tube maybe out into lengths of the required size to form a series of independent thimbles or paokings, each section constituting the packing for the end of a condensing-tube; or, iustead of thus making a long tube and afterward cutting it up into lengths suitable for making a series of independent packings, each packing may be separately made from a strip of a width corresponding to the length of the packing to be produced. Such tubular packings thus made from unprepared paper having a thin pellicle of glue applied to its one side or face, but being otherwise unprepared, are very liable to lose their com.- pactness and form by the action of the steam and water of the condenser upon them; also, to become soft or pulpy at their exposed ends and to rot and oxidize or stick, in common with the tubes, and thereby to make it difficult to take out the tubes when necessary without injuring or breaking the head-sheets. These defects my invention obviates by making the packings more compact and, so far as the material of which they are made, butnot so far as their folds are concerned, waterproof, and so that they will resist any oxidizing or corroding and sticking action, substantially as hereinafter described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a thimble or packing embodying my invention, with the end portion of its outer fold' unwrapped to show the glue or cement applied to the surface of the strip of which the packingis made. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the finished thimble or tube; and Fig. 3, a mainly-sectional view of one of the headsheets of a condenser in part, a condensingtube in part fitting therein, and of the tubular packing applied.

A indicates the tubular packing, made of paper, burlap, linen, or other suitable fibrous material, but preferably manila paper. This packing I make by first forming it into a tube by wrapping or spirally rolling the fibrous material around a suitable mandrel, a thin pellicle of glue or cement I) having been previously applied to the one surface of the strip to make its folds adhere, as in the paper-tube packings hereinbefore described. I then beat said tube or packing in an oven, and afterward immerse it in a mixture composed of linseed-oil, paraffine, and charcoaldust substantially in or about the proportions of one g2 11011 of linseed-oil, one pound of parafiine, and one pound of charcoaldust. This mixture should be heated to about 90 before immersing the packing tubes, which are immersed in such heated mixture and allowed to remain therein for about one hour, (more orless,) after which they are taken out and allowed to cool and dry. The oil and paraffiue will have the effect of filling the paper or fiber to prevent absorption of water when the packing is in use, and the charcoal by its absorption within the pores of the fiber will prevent the latter from rotting. If desired, however, the charcoal might be omitted from the waterproofing composition. A tubular packing thus made and prepared will retain its compactness and form. will be highly durable and not rot, and will be free from being affected by the water and steam of the condenser. It consequently will not stick or oxidize in common With the condensing-tube B, which may accordingly be readily taken out, as also the packings be driven or drawn out when necessary without risk of injuring or breaking the head-sheet C of the condenser. Any steam or Water penetrating such packings will simply serve to loosen the glued or cemented folds, which Will rather add to the efficiency of the packing by swelling it, but will not be absorbed by the fiber of the packing-s, thereby improving the packing, as above stated. These packings are to be applied to the heads and tubes of the condenser as other tubular packings made of unprepared material have been applied. It will be noticed that by saturating the packing after it has been given its tubular form, the adhesive substance will hold the coils 0r folds wound into tubular form with an intervening adhesive substance securing the several folds, and a water-proof composition applied to the tube thus formed, substantially as set forth.

TERRANOE P. FORD. Witnesses:

A. GREGORY, EDGAR TATE. 

